htaylor@herbtaylor.com
updated 24-Jun-2007


Bouzoukis & Citterns

These are my favorites, both to build and play. Mostly they're used in Celtic music, but I like to play American fiddle tunes on them, expecially syncopated numbers -- lots of fun!

There's no standard scale length, tuning, or nomenclature here. If it has a long scale length (about 25") and octave tuning on the lower courses, it's usually a "bouzouki". If it has a shorter scale length (about 22") and unison courses, it's an "octave mandolin". If it has 10 strings (normally but not necessarily short scale) it's a "cittern". Personally I don't like to play the long scale instruments because I'm a melody player, and the frets are too far apart for mandolin fingering. But the long scale gives a more complex, interesting sound.

Mandolas and mandocellos are in the "Mandolin Family" directory, not here.

All of them feature a bolt-on neck. Some of these have a normal heel, and some are a "no-heel" design. This allows you, the user, to change the neck angle -- a task which normally requires a skilled technician, who must steam the neck joint to soften the glue. With the bolt-on neck, you can unbolt the neck yourself and change the angle of a shim to alter the neck angle.

AVAILABLE

Number 82 An arch-top bouzouki in pau rosa and redwood. $2300
Number 80 An arch-top octave mandolin in Indian rosewood and Sitka spruce. $2600
Number 79 An arch-top long-scale cittern in cherry and Sitka spruce. $2600
Number 55 An arch-top 10-string cittern in Indian rosewood. $2100

SOLD

Number 83 A flat-top bouzouki in curly maple and Sitka spruce
Number 81 A flat-top bouzouki with pin bridge, in chechen and Sitka spruce
Number 76 An arch-top bouzouki in rosewood and red spruce
Number 75 A guitar-bodied long scale cittern in rosewood and Engelman spruce
Number 70 An arch-top octave mandolin with F holes, curly maple
Number 56 An arch-top Irish bouzouki in curly maple
Number 54 An arch-top octave mandolin in bubinga rosewood with fancy body shape
Number 44 An arch-top 10-string cittern in chechen and Sitka spruce
Number 43 A flat-top bouzouki in Indian rosewood and Sitka spruce
Number 38 A flat-top octave mandolin in bubinga and Sitka spruce